Speaking to Into The Gloss in 2014, Shailene raved about ingesting clay, claiming that it “helps clean heavy metals out of your body.” “Clay is great for you because your body doesn’t absorb it,” she said, “and it apparently provides a negative charge, so it bonds to negative isotopes.” This is not scientifically backed, and the FDA has even issued warnings against consuming bentonite clay, which is what Shailene specifically recommended.
In the same interview, Shailene also raised eyebrows by saying that she sunbathes her vagina to help with things like yeast infections, “other genital issues,” and energy levels. “If you’re feeling depleted, go in the sun for an hour and see how much energy you get,” she suggested. “Or, if you live in a place that has heavy winters, when the sun finally comes out, spread your legs and get some sunshine.” There appears to be no medical backing to this “health hack” (known as “perineum sunning”), and skincare professionals have advised against trying it due to the dangers of painful sunburn.
